Caterpillar-wheel.



t. MLLEH.

CATEHPLLAH WHEEL.

wmcmmw FILED -ov.l,19i3.

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n A, il .gi-iil9 'Paton tod J une 5, 1,91?

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT, OFFICE.

fio

.ARTHUR E. u1u-EN., or NEWTON,

IOWA, ASSIGNOB T0 THE G. W. PARSONS COMPANJY,

or NEWTON, IOWA.

CATERPILLAR-WHEEL.

Specication n! Letters'latent.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E.M1LLER, a citizen of the United States,'and resident of Newton, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Caterpillar-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a caterpillar wheelof simple, durable and inexpensive construction, particularly designedxfor use on excavators and adapted foruse on tractors and' the' like.

More particularly it is my object to provide a caterpillar wheel, so constructed and arranged that the ordinary wheel on a traction excavator or` trench digger may be rcmovedand my improved caterpillar wheel. substituted. for it 011 the axle so as to support a machine at the same height as by the ordinary wheel, and in no Waydestroying the three l'ioint suspensionof the wheel.

Still? a )further object is to provide sich a device in which the central tread portion, whichires'ts upon the ground or othcr'surL falce over which the device travels, is sonicwhat lower than the other portions of the traveling sprocket 'chains or similar devices.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having a frame ofsimplc, inexpensive and very durable construction, so are ranged and assembled that it may be readily and easily put 'together ortaken apart for repairing or replacing parts.

A further object is to provide such a device having means whereby the tension on the tread carrying chains `may be readily varied as desired.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having a sleeve designed to be mounted on the axle of the excavator or other machine and having supporting bearings in which said sleeve is ecccntrically mounted. Mv mventlon consists incertain details, in the construction, combmatlon and ar'` rangement of the various parts of the dey vice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

` pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi re l shows a side yelevation of a` caterpillar wheel, embodying `my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a transverse, central, verti cal, sectional view through my device, taken on a line at right angles to the view Shown 1n Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detail, sectional 'l view, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a` detail, sectional view of a modified form of tread.

',Fig. 5 shows a detail, sectional view ot said modified form, taken on a line at right angles to the view shown in Fig.l 4.

Patented June 5, i917.

Fig. 6 shows a detail view of one of the treads of saidmodilied form, and

Fig. 7 shows a sectional, detail view, on a line 7--7 of Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of the eccentric sleeve.

,l In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 1() tot indicate generally `the axle of a trench excavator or` other machine on which my improved catery pillar wheel may be used. Mounted on the axle 1() is a sleeve 11,'formed on one'ead of which is. a hub 12. The shaft 10 is `oreferably mounted eccentrically in the` `sfeeve 11. Mounted on the axle 10, within the hub 12 is a. bearingl. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve 11 is ahub 32, having a lar liangesV 36 spaced apart from eachy Secured to the flanges 36'of the hublx32f' are a plurality of radially extendin Spokes 33'. Secured to the outer` surfaces o thespokes 33, on one side of the machine, is arr' annular rim 15, which lis secured to the spokes`33by means of bolts extendcdthrough said spokes andthrough the Hange'l'' formed on `said rim. `On the outside of the outer portion of the rim 15 are formed gear teeth 16. On

the inner side of the rim 15 are formed a plurality of reinforcing ribs 18. The gear Vteeth 16- are somewhat shorter than the width-of the rim 15. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve 11, on the end thereof opposite the sleeve 13, is a suitable bearing member 31,

extending downwardly from which is a T iron frame member 19. Extending downwardly and away from the bearing member 31, on opposite sides thereof are angle iron frame members 20 and 21. gThe lower ends of the frame members 21 and 19 are firmly secured to a horizontal framemember 22, preferably of angle iron. A parallel frame member 23 is spaced below the frame member22.v The middle portions of the frame members 22 and 23 are referably connected by a T iron frame memger24.

Mounted between the outer ends of the frame members 22 and 23 are frames 25 arranged to have a limited sliding movement between the frame members 22 and 23, by

bt er.

ranged that the lrfeans of bolts 26 eirtended through the frame members 25 and through elongated 'ion 'tudinal slots 27 in the members 22 and 23. Mounted between the frame members 22 and 23, on opposite sides of the-members 24, are frame members 28, having screw threaded openings extended through them. Mounted in said openings are screw threaded rods 29 having their adjacent inner ends 30 angular to receive a Wrench. The outer ends of the rods 29 are round and are rotatably but non-slidably mounted in the frames 25. Mounted on the outer end of the hub 12 is a bearing member 31, secured to which are frame members 19, 20 and 21, similar in construction to those already described and located-on the opposite side of themachine. The members 20, 19 and 21 support a similar frame construction to that already described. Formed on the outer ends of each of the frames 25 is a bearing 34. At each end of the machine a transverse shaft 35 is mounted in two of the bearings 34.

Mounted on the shafts 35, adjacent to the frame members 22 and 23, on opposite sides ofthe machine, are large sprocket wheels or rollers 37. The outer ends of the spokes 33 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 38 to which is bolted a flat rim 39. A tread device is provided in my ymachine which may be constructed as follows:

Blocks 40, having in cross section the shape of a truncated wedge, are arranged in succession and are connected at each end by a sprocket chain 41. The blocks 40 are preferably provided with metal plates 42 and 43 on thear inner and outer surfaces. The blocks 40 receive the weight of the rim 39 of the large Wheel.

On the outer sides of the spokes 33, near thefouter ends thereof, are secured annular rings 44, formed on the outer edges of which are laterally extending annular flanges 45. On the outer edges of the flanges 45 are formed outwardly extending flanges 46 in parallel vertical planes. The flanges 46 are 'provided with sprocket teeth 47. The flanges 45 and rings 44 are reinforced by ribs 48.

It will be noted that the flanges 46 and the sprocket chains 41 are so located and arteeth 47, enga ge the sprocket chain links without imposing the weight of the large wheel on said chains. The chains 41 are extended over the sprocket teeth 47 at the top of each side of the large wheel, and over the sprocket gears and over the sprocket teeth 47 at the lower part of the large wheel. The tension on the sprocket chains may be varied by regulating the'position of the frames Power is imparted to my improved caterpillar wheel from a shaft 50. suitably mounted on theframe of the main'machine. On the shaft 50 is a small gear wheel 51.in mesh prises a series of bodies 80, arranged trans:H

versely of lthe rim 39 and outsideV said rim, said tread members being arranged in succession. bel tread member S0 is hollow and is provided with reinforcing ribs 81 on the inside. I preferably also provide plates 53 to receive the weight of the rim 39.

Formed at each end of each body S0 are sprocket chain members 82. Spaced apart from each sprocket chain member S2 is a sprocket chain member 83, earrving a shoe 85. The members 82 and are, spaced apart farther from each other atvone end than at the other so that the closer ends of said members on each portion of the tread device may be received between tlie spread members of the next succeeding portion of the tread device. The sprocket chain, and the members S2 an'd Sii of tbe succeeding tread devices are pivoted together by means of bolts H4. 'lhe sidewalls of the tread members 8() arel curved from their upper edges downwardly and toward their central, transverselines. as shown in Fig. 5, for a purpose which will bc hereinafter more fully explained.

lVhere the'tread device just described is used on my caterpillar wbeehthe sprocket frames comprising the members 44 and 45 and 46 are secured to' the spokes 3?) nearer the periphery of the large wheel, as shown in Fig. 4, although even in the form of the device shown in F ig. 4 the weight of the device is designed to be imposed through theI rim 39 upon the tread members 80 and not upon the sprocket chain members.

My improved caterpillar wheel has a large number. of advantages, many of which may be sieen from the foregoing description. The arrangement of the sleeve l1 in which the shaft 10 is eccentrically mounted enables me to vary the distance of the gear teeth 16 from the axle l() so that if there should bel any variation in the parts the gear teeth 16 and the gear teeth on the I gear 5l may be made to come to a true mesh. The bearings 31 and 31 may be secured in any position on the sleeve 11 by the means of the set screws shown in Fig. 2. On account of the arrangement of the frames and the position of the sprocket wheels 37 the central'lower portion of the flexible tread device is lower than any other portion, making it much easier to turn tbe Whole machine than could be done where the entire lower portion of the tread device is arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane. The manner in which my sprocket frames are mounted with relationto the sprocket chains enables'the draft to be properly applied to the sprocket device is so cor -tructed that stones on thc like, which might-.lie gripped between the sneeessive tread membersl are seized between the rounded side. wallsI of said tread members and squeezed o It so that the tread members will not be. brown apart.

lt will be seen that the parts of my im,- proved caterpillar wheel are of compara tively simple construction and may be readily and easily assembled or taken apart.

7.\l v wheel is so arranged that it may be huilt to be easily put on an axle totake the place ot an ordinary wheel and the axle 1t) will be Asupported at the saule distance from the ground as would he the rase if the ordinalv wheel weret-mploved. liv simply removimgr the tiexilile tread device. the. large wheel mav be emplolved in propelling the machine` l. In a device of Athe class described, an axle, a sleeve mounted thereon, a wheel mounted on said. sleeve. bearings on said sleeve on each side ot said wheel, frames -supported on. .said bearings. sprockets in said` frames above the level of the lower part of the wheel. sprocket rims mounted onthe sides otsaid wheel near the periph4 eifv* thereof. a tread device comprising tread members` arranged in sluaession` sprocket chains on the ends of said tread members arranged to travel over the sprocket wheels on each side of thc first wheel and on the upper and lower parts of the respective sprocket rims.

L. ln a device of the class described, an axle. a sleeve mounted thereon` a wheel mounted on said sleeve. bearings on said sleeve on each side of said wheel. frames supported 'on said bearings, Sprockets insaid tramesI above the level of the/lower part ot the wheel s|'nocket rims mounted ou the sides. of said wheel near the peripheryY thereof, a tread device comprising tread members arranged in succession, sprocket ehainscn the ends of said tread members arranged to travel over the sprocket wheels on eaeli4 side of the. first'whecl and on' the upper `and lower parts 'ofthe respective sprocket rims, lsaid first wheel being provided with a 'rim which travels on the ccntral parts of said tread members.

ln a device of the` class described, a sleeve, an axle eccentrically mounted therein,

a wheelmounted'l on said -sleeve, bearings adjustably mounted on 4said sleeve on each side of said wheel, trames supported on said bearings, sprockets in said framesabove the level of the lower part of the wheel, sprocket rims mounted on the sides of said wheel near the periphery thereof, a tread device comprising tread members arranged in succession, sprocket chains on the, ends of said tread members arranged to travel over the sprocket wheels on each side of the first wheel and on the upper and lower parts of the respective sprocket rims` a rim mounted on one side of said -tirst wheel having;r gear teeth formed on the. periphcr)Y thereof, a second shaft, and a gear wheel thereon in mesh with-said teeth.

l. In a device 'of the class described, a sleeve. an axle ecccutrically mounted therein, a driving tractor wheel mounted on said sleeve, a rim secured to said wheel, having gear teeth formed on-its periphery, aV sec `ond axle. and a gear wheel thereon in mesh with said teeth.

device of the character described comprising.r in combination a pair of spaced side trauwsotl substantially triangular formation having r bearings4 at cach corner thereof and having their lower sides disposed in substantially horizontal planes, bearing' wheels mounted in the bearings of the`lower and outer ends of said frames, means for adjusting said bearings longitudiuallv ot the trames. a tractor wheel, n'ieaus for rotativelv supportinfbr the tractor wheel l'roniihe bearings at the upper pore tions ot` lsaid trames. means for adjusting ysuch mounting ot the tractor wheel with.

relation to a supporting axle, and an endless tread member comprising a'central ,ground engaging: portion -upon which said tractor wheel travels and. sprocket chains disposed ont\\'ardl \y thereof, said ltractor wheel beinec provided with sprocket teeth forV engagement with said sprocket chains, said tread member passing over said bearing wheels.

ti. In a device ol4 the class described, an axle. a wheel mounted thereon, aframe supported ou -said axle. and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, sprocket wheels mounted iu the ends of said frame` a sprocket rim mounted on the side of said first ,wheel near the periphery thereof, a. t'read device comprising trcadmembers arranged in succession. and a sprocket chain von the ends ofsaid tread members arrangedto travel over the sprocket Wheelsv and on th'e upper and lower parts of'the sprocket rim. i

Moines, Iowa. November v11,- 1913. I

Des

' ARTHUR. E. MTLLER. Witnesses:

GEORGE F. LMmEa'n' vNi'nmr. TuUIT'r, 

